Gearshift lever assembly with magnetic feeling for a motor vehicle

A gearshift lever assembly for a motor vehicle, the gearshift lever assembly comprising:

• a base;
• a lever graspable by a driver of the motor vehicle and movable along a path comprising a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the base;
• a first magnet mounted to the lever, the first magnet having a first magnetic polarity axis;
• and
• a second magnet for each of said predetermined positions, each second magnet having a second magnetic polarity axis, each second magnet being fixed in position relative to the base such that a second magnet in a said predetermined position exerts a magnetic attraction on the first magnet when the lever is in that predetermined position and such that the second magnetic polarity axis of the second magnet in that predetermined position extends at an angle relative to the first magnetic polarity axis.

A gearshift control for a motor vehicle, the gearshift control comprising:

• a base;
• an actuator graspable by a driver of the motor vehicle and movable along a path comprising a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the base;
• a first magnetic element mounted to the actuator;
• and
• a second magnetic element for each of said predetermined positions, each second magnetic element being fixed in position relative to the base such that a second magnetic element in a said predetermined position exerts a magnetic attraction on the first magnetic element when the actuator is in that predetermined position, wherein the second magnetic elements are arranged along the path and arranged at an angle relative to the path such that the second magnetic elements create an arrangement of peaks and depressions that create an array of magnetic peaks aligned with the predetermined positions, and wherein each said magnetic peak is defined intermediate two adjacent second magnetic elements each having a polarity facing a different magnetic valley, the polarity being opposite the polarity of the first magnetic element.